Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Ally-to-Be Mid-Boss
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The man, 'No. 3', slowly wiped the blood trickling down his face.
Despite nearly dying, he showed no great sign of fear.
It was the demeanor befitting a messenger who had to deal with all sorts of madmen.
"Boss is looking for you. Smiling Man."
"Then tell him I'm too busy."
Smiling Man. The official rating from the Union side: Highest Danger Class.
But judging by the fact that he'd faced even S-Rank Heroes, he might be something more.
Why speculation? Because this guy never truly revealed his power.
Villains were supposed to have a strong affection and confidence in their own strength.
They fought like they wanted to devour each other over the pettiest things.
Yet Smiling Man always dodged with a 'Hahaha. Sorry.'
'Truly bizarre. Extremely... ominous.'
That was exactly why No. 3 found Smiling Man unsettling.
The ever-smiling face. Narrow eyes that revealed nothing.
Polite speech to anyone and everyone, despite being a villain.
Avoiding fights with just a smile, despite such strength.
"Boss has an additional message."
"This is getting tiring."
The smile at the corner of Smiling Man's mouth twisted slightly.
The moment No. 3 saw it, his instincts screamed danger!
He unconsciously tried to use his Ability to confront the monster.
"Stop it."
"…."
"You'll get hurt."
He couldn't move. Mana Threads had pierced his arm at some point.
If Smiling Man just flicked his fingers now, the arm would be severed.
His distrust grew even stronger. A villain who didn't act like a villain at all.
"…I'll relay it again. Smiling Man."
No more hesitation. He had to deliver the message, live or die.
"Boss. Calls for you."
"Hmm."
"If you won't budge, she said to mention it's about activity funds."
"Ah."
The paralyzed arm returned to him as if by magic.
The completely severed mana and nerves were restored to normal.
A master who handled the ultra-high difficulty Mana Threads like a ghost.
He realized the rumors of Catastrophe Class weren't false.
"Sorry. If I'd told you upfront, this wouldn't have happened. My mistake."
He barely suppressed the scoff trying to escape his lips.
Other villains moved immediately at Boss's summons.
The only one who acted up like this was Smiling Man.
'Why does Boss keep a guy like that around?'
The question rose, but he didn't voice it.
A messenger just delivered words. Like No. 1 and No. 2.
He, No. 3, was merely a pigeon or a hawk.
"Boss calls, so of course I must go. Absolutely."
"…."
As expected, someone he didn't want to associate with.
Thinking that, No. 3 obediently opened the portal.
***
If Heroes had the Union, then Villains had the Clan.
Or crime syndicate. Den of murderers. Gathering of psychos. And so on.
Either way, it was definitely a group formed by individuals banding together.
And where many gathered, a head to represent them was inevitable.
"What now. I was resting so nicely."
A massively built tattooed man yawned widely as he entered.
"Annoying. I was really getting into hunting those Hero bitches."
The Murder Maniac Girl grumbled. She had a hobby of collecting fingers from the Heroes she'd killed.
"…Shut up."
The Gloomy Swordsman, exuding a dank aura, clicked his tongue at the two.
The inside of the Clan grew rowdy at their arrival.
"What? What's up with those guys all of a sudden?"
"God save us. Hey, bad day today. Let's bounce."
Villains didn't flinch even against armed police or Heroes.
Yet even they freaked out at the sight of those three, fleeing before their eyes could meet.
Seven Evils. The most cruel, ferocious, and powerful monsters among villains.
There was a saying: If the Union had the Special Task Force, the Clan had the Seven Evils.
They were so wild and brutal that they rarely gathered.
Today, three of them had entered the Clan.
"You've arrived."
The door opened, and a woman with short bobbed hair greeted the three.
For reference, these types killed even fellow villains like bugs if they disliked them.
Now it was clear why the Clan's villains fled at the mere sight of them.
"Hey. Secretary. Boss called us?"
"That woman said she was busy, so why call us over?"
"…Shut up."
"Thank you for coming nonetheless."
The bob-cut woman continued, looking at Tattoos, then Murder Maniac Girl, then Gloomy Swordsman in turn.
"Boss awaits. Shall we go?"
"Hey. Hold up."
Dark red energy burst from Murder Maniac Girl's hand, flying straight at the bob-cut woman's neck.
The intent to kill was obvious. No one in the room tried to stop it.
Instead, reactions of intrigue. And the reason was revealed soon enough.
"I'll say it upfront. No commotion before Boss."
"Wow. Tough bitch. Blocks this?"
Of course. Did anyone think a Clan Boss's secretary was ordinary?
The bob-cut woman casually blocked the Seven Evils member's attack and opened the door.
"Please enter."
"Good work."
Tattoos patted her shoulder. Murder Maniac Girl sneered.
Finally, Gloomy Swordsman entered, and the woman closed the entrance.
Clunk!
The moment the three entered, the scenery shifted wildly several times.
Illusion Ability. At a level that would disorient even seasoned S-Rank Heroes.
If a Hero had stepped through that door, they never would have escaped alive.
"Mind always gets messed up coming here."
"Annoying. Such a hassle!"
"…Shut up."
"Does this middle-school syndrome nerd only know how to say 'shut up'? Hit hard with puberty?"
"Leave him. He's always like that."
"Sigh. Fuck. Can't just kill him."
By then, the constantly shifting scenery finally settled into one.
A vast rear garden centered around an enormous pond.
A pavilion in the center. Desk and chairs set up inside.
"Never get used to this place."
"Boss does have unique tastes."
"…Shut up."
As the three moved forward, they suddenly realized there was already a guest.
"What. Not just us coming?"
"Yeah. Didn't hear about any other guys."
Upon reaching the pavilion, they came face-to-face with a man bearing a bizarre smile.
"What."
"Smiling Man?"
"…?"
At first, all three blinked, wondering if they'd seen wrong.
A guy who wasn't one of the Seven Evils, daring to be in this spot.
A villain who oddly drew Boss's interest, yet felt somewhat off-putting.
"Hello. Seven Evils members. Three of you today?"
"Why the hell are you here?"
"Why else? Boss called me, obviously."
He wasn't built twice as huge as others like Tattoos.
He didn't ooze thick killing intent like Murder Maniac Girl.
He didn't openly radiate displeasure like Gloomy Swordsman either.
Just an utterly ordinary man. At least, that's how he looked and felt.
"…."
"…."
"…."
Yet not a single one of the Seven Evils members treated him lightly.
Perhaps because of that instinctive wariness from his bizarre presence.
Or the sharp senses of beasts that detected the strong.
'No. Why are we, the Seven Evils, getting cold feet from some nobody.'
Tattoos stomped forward toward Smiling Man.
"Hey. Smiling Man."
"You called?"
Smiling Man asked with a smile, just like before.
Tattoos ramped up his presence and spoke in an intimidating tone.
"Boss hasn't arrived yet. Let's have a quick round."
"Here?"
Smiling Man looked around with a troubled expression.
"Not here. This is the garden. I don't want to fight you."
He looked like a powerless, wronged citizen grabbed by a thug.
That only provoked Tattoos' temper further.
This unpleasant bastard. Always hiding behind that smiling mask—what was he scheming?
"I want a round with you."
"I'm in. Sounds fun."
"…Noisy."
"Even this middle-school nerd's on board."
Murder Maniac Girl and Gloomy Swordsman chimed in. Fights were always welcome.
"Come on."
"Hahaha. Why are you doing this? Please don't."
He pushed away Tattoos' hand gripping his shoulder, his smile growing more troubled.
But Tattoos had no intention of backing down. He wanted to show his strength this time.
Absolutely not jealousy because one of the Seven Evils he had a crush on seemed to take a liking to Smiling Man.
Yeah. Absolutely not.
"Get up. Smiling Man."
"Calm down. This garden—Boss cherishes it, right?"
"Get up!"
He'd show him. Prove this punk was nothing.
Prove his strength to her and make her his woman!
So—
Rip!
As he forced him up, the fabric of the clothing stretched slightly.
For a very brief moment, Smiling Man's signature smile vanished from his lips.
That instant, the reactions of Murder Maniac Girl and Gloomy Swordsman behind him changed.
As if on cue, they both activated their Abilities simultaneously.
Tense. Ominous. And, just a little, afraid.
They prepared to confront the monster that had suddenly appeared.
"…."
And Tattoos, who had witnessed it closest, briefly bit his lip.
"Please let go."
Smiling Man was smiling again, just like when they'd first met.
But the three who had glimpsed beyond it could say nothing.